Tuesday, October 2, 2007

The Killing Fields of Burma: Crisis Enters New Phase

Britain's Daily Mail recently published the account of a defecting Burmese general who says "the bodies number in the thousands." Diplomatic sources report killing fields: Buddhist monks in concentration camps, beaten, slaughtered, bodies dumped in rivers. The true colors of Burma's junta may be exposed for all the world to see. The junta is akin to Nazis or the Khmer Rouge. The crisis in Burma has entered a new phase.

The first priority must be to carry on the spirit of Burma's peaceful protests abroad. In this regard, our efforts should target China. We must do what is necessary to prevent China from offering further support to its murderous ally. China is well integrated into the global economy; it is vulnerable to outside pressure.

  • Sign this petition.
    - petition described further here.
  • Join a protest at the nearest consulate or embassy of the People's Republic of China.
  • We need some creative ideas here. I've just opened comments.
Because China doesn't want the outside world to interfere in the affairs of its ally, talk of outside interference in Burma's affairs should top the international agenda. This is a tactic to make China listen, and make the regime take the world seriously. No reasonable option should be off the table. The more viable options for interference the outside world seriously discusses, the more pressure this puts on China and its ally, the Burmese junta. Viable options may or may not include:
  • Support for rebel groups who are already fighting the Burmese junta.
  • The Naypyidaw Option.
  • Other ideas?

2 comments:

  1. Free Burma!
    International Bloggers' Day for Burma on the 4th of October

    International bloggers are preparing an action to support the peaceful revolution in Burma. We want to set a sign for freedom and show our sympathy for these people who are fighting their cruel regime without weapons. These Bloggers are planning to refrain from posting to their blogs on October 4 and just put up one Banner then, underlined with the words „Free Burma!“.

    www.free-burma.org

    ReplyDelete
  2. I also feel strongly that we should all try to so something, but I honestly wonder if an online petition will help. These things are notoriously unreliable and I wonder if China will pay it any attention whatsoever. Still, we must do what we can.

    ReplyDelete

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